Fred Meyer doesn’t think Seattle will be asking for plastic at the checkout counter for much longer. The grocery retailer is eliminating plastic bags at stores in its hometown of Portland as part of a trial that will likely extend company-wide in the future. …

A barista works at Roy Street Coffee & Tea. (Starbucks photo) A flagship Starbucks on Capitol Hill is waiting for the state to grant it a liquor license, one step in a plan to turn the coffee shop into a more grown-up version of itself. …

Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos unveils the Kindle DX in 2009. (Getty Images) Amazon’s Kindle e-books are outselling hardbacks for the first time in the company’s history, according to a second-quarter preview released Monday. …

Elliott Bay’s new location on Capitol Hill. (Josh Trujillo/Seattle P-I) The Elliott Bay Book Co. was troubled one year ago. So troubled that owner Peter Aaron thought he’d have to close its doors for good. …